Readers' Skin Cancer Stories
Sue Stigler, Las Vegas, Nev.
I was diagnosed with melanoma in July 2004 when I was seven months pregnant with my son. My "guardian angel," my friend Lori, practically forced me to see a dermatologist after noticing an irregular mole on my right forearm. I had had this mole for as long as I can remember. I called it my "butterfly mole," because it resembled a small butterfly. It was just a little darker than my skin, and didn't look at all like the pictures I've seen of melanomas. At the time of my diagnosis, Lori and I had 4-year-old daughters in the same dance class. We would sit in the lobby and chat during their class. One morning, Lori asked about the mole on my arm, saying she'd been diagnosed with melanoma a few years earlier. I admitted that I hadn't had it checked and she suggested that I call my doctor as soon as possible. The next week, she asked if I'd called a dermatologist. At the time I was six months pregnant, and didn't want to bother with another check-up. In the next weeks she gave me her doctor's card, and again asked me to make an appointment. The following week, when I told her I hadn't called yet, she made the call from her cell phone and handed me the receiver! At my appointment, the dermatologist called my OB for permission to remove the mole-exactly one week later I received the news that I had a malignant melanoma and would need additional surgery to ensure clear margins and removal of all cancer cells. There I was, seven months pregnant and being told I had cancer. Looking back, it's no wonder. I was a sun goddess who spent most of my teen summers lying on the beach covered in baby oil or going to a tanning bed. I now see my oncologist and dermatologist regularly and have chest x-rays annually so that I'll catch a recurrence early. I am so grateful for my "pushy" guardian angel-she most likely saved my life.
Kimberly Arzberger, Puyallup, Wash.
I'd like to share our daughter Kim's inspiring skin cancer story. On Christmas 1997 she and her family came to visit us from Seattle, Wash. One morning Kim and I were catching up on things when she tentatively said she'd like to show me a mole on her back. I was shocked at how dark and ugly it looked, and although I didn't know much about irregular moles or skin cancer, hers didn't look good to me. She told me her doctor in Seattle had looked at it and thought it was nothing to worry about, but I told Kim I would get it taken off anyway because it was raised and could catch on her clothes. After she went back to Seattle, Kim didn't make an appointment with a dermatologist until her OB/GYN saw the mole and told her she should see a dermatologist right away. Kim was diagnosed with melanoma, and further tests showed it was in stage III. In April of 1998 she had the lymph nodes removed from under her arm. We were there when she had the surgery, and that's when my husband and I really found out how serious melanoma was. We didn't know you could die from skin cancer. It was very troubling time for our family. After therapy and more treatments, she recovered and was able to go back to work. She sees her dermatologist on a regular basis, and it's been nine years since her diagnosis and she has had no recurrences. We feel God has blessed her and healed her body. She thanks Him every day that she is alive and still able to enjoy her life and her family.
Tina Scozzaro, West Hills, Calif.
My 20-year-old daughter, Shawna, saved my life. We were relaxing, my legs crossed across her lap, when she noticed a mole on my leg. She said, "That mole doesn't look right, you should get that checked out, Mom." About a month later she asked if I made an appointment (which I had not). She got mad and told me to make one that day. I finally did, and was diagnosed with melanoma at age 41. I had to undergo a wide excision surgery, which included a very painful skin graft, as well as a biopsy of a node in my groin. I now have a 2" crater-like scar on my lower leg and a skin graft scar, but it's a small price to pay for my life. I am alive today because Shawna was persistent and made me got to the doctor. Thank you, baby!
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READER COMMENTS
There is another form of skin cancer that doesn't make it into magazine articles like this because it's so rare. It is called Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) and I was diagnosed with it in October. I had a strange looking mole on the right side of my abdomen that 2 primary care doctors and my gynecologist dismissed as nothing to worry about. I knew something was not right with it and finally went to see a dermatologist, who also thought it was no big deal. Then the lab test results came back saying it was malignant. Luckily, this is a very slow growing, non-aggressive cancer and I caught it in the early stages (although I was aware of the mole for probably 3 years before I was diagnosed). I had Mohs Micrographic Surgery to remove all of the effected tissue and make sure all the margins were clear. I am left with a 6-inch scar from the surgery (the size of the mole was about 2 or 3 centimeters). My dermatological oncologist commented that it was probably as close to major surgery as anyone could get. I was very sore for the first few days after the surgery, but felt it was a small price to pay for being cancer free. The cause of DFSP is unknown and it is a rare form of skin cancer. I spent many years during my childhood and teens in the sun and used tanning beds for several years into my adulthood. I was still tanning even when I knew I had a suspicious mole. I encourage everyone to see a doctor if you find anything suspicious on your body. Ask questions. Follow your intuition, even if a doctor says there is nothing to worry about. If I hadn't been proactive about my health, who knows how long I would have had this mole and potentially other cancers as a result of it.
— Jennifer-
Thank you for your informative article about skin cancer. I had two spots of concern on my face. I went my regular physician and he said it was nothing to worry about it looked harmless to him. I then read the article you published in your magazine and did further research the internet myself. I decided to go to a dermatologist. I went to the dermatologis on August 31, 2007. The dermatologist immediately suggested the two spots be biopsied. A week later I received the phone call that I had Basal Cell Skin Cancer. I scheduled Mohs surgery on September 27, 2007. The Mohs surgeon is trained in removing the tumor and saving the most healthy tissue. The surgeon is also trained to examine each piece of tissue removed and decide if another section needs to be removed or not. I had three cuts on the tumor located on my forehead near the hairline and two cuts to remove the tumor between the bridge of my nose and my eye. The mohs surgeon also is highly skilled at reconstruction. She pulled skin from my forehead down and cover the area by my eye and pulled my forehead up to cover the large portion removed from my forehead. I am still healing, it will be months before the scars fade. I am 34 years old and have always worn sunscreen in my adult life. The doctor indicated that most of the damage occures before we are 20 years old. I have suggested my sister and her family visit the dermotologist and they did. My sister had a freckle removed from her face and her husband had a mole removed from his back. They are still waiting for the results. I urge everyone to error on the side of caution and go get a regular skin exam. Thanks for you informative article.
— Becky Smith
My sister wasn't so lucky. She had a mole removed from the back of her shoulder after her daughter noticed it and kept after her to get it looked at. It was melonoma. She later had to have her lymp nodes removed. She underwent numerous chemo therapies. She was so very sick. She fought hard for 3 years and lost her battle. Please please please for my sisters sake....use sunscreen, hats, whatever it takes. Your life is worth so much more than a tan. I don't understand why they call it a healthy tan. In my sisters memory and sad sad struggle for her life...I here and now commit that I will NEVER be in the sun without protection again. I love you my sister Shirley and I miss you very very much!
— Carol Rawls
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